Equipment

Cobra launches F-Max line, introduces One Length to SGI category

Published

9 years ago

Aug 1, 2017

With its new F-Max golf clubs, Cobra continues its commitment to slower-speed golfers who need golf clubs that make the game easier. According to the company, the best way to accomplish this is to make the golf clubs weigh less, and to pack them with technologies that help launch the ball higher, straighter and with more speed.

In attempts to further simplify the game for beginning and senior golfers, Cobra is bringing the company’s popular one-length-iron concept — all of the irons in the set measure the same length and have the same lie angle as a 7 iron — to the super game-improvement category with its F-Max One Length irons.

Throughout the F-Max line, Cobra has also made material changes and technological improvements to make the clubs more forgiving and longer than Cobra’s previous Max line. The F-Max line, which includes drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and wedges, will hit stores on August 18th.

Read on for pricing and specs. We break down everything you need to know about the individual offerings below.

F-Max Driver

In order to create a lighter driver — “lighter means easier to hit,” according to Tom Olsavsky, VP of R&D for Cobra — the F-Max drivers are built with Cobra Superlite 50-gram shafts and have reduced swing weights compared to their Max predecessors.

The F-Max drivers also have a forged Ti-6-4 titanium face insert that’s said to create more distance on mishits. For more forgiveness and a higher launch, center of gravity has been shifted more toward the rear and heel of the club, which should help slicers turn the ball over a bit easier. Other changes include a new alignment feature on the crown, a new black PVD finish, and two different hosel options for golfers; an “offset” neck for those who need additional draw bias, and a straight neck for a relatively straighter flight.

“When it comes to the super game-improvement category, it can’t be overstated how important lightweight construction is to this category of player,” Olsavsky said in a press release. “With the creation of F-Max, we have focused on the concept that lighter means easier to hit and we have gone to great lengths to ensure that even our components deliver superiority when it comes to reduced weight.”

The F-Max Drivers are available in 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5–degree lofts and will sell for $299. They come stock with Lamkin Rel 360 midsize grips, which Cobra says will improve comfort and consistency (due to the larger grip size).

F-Max Fairway Woods

Cobra continues its focus on a lightweight construction with the F-Max fairway woods to help golfers hit the ball higher and straighter. With many of the same technologies as the driver — most namely back/heel CG weighting, the crown alignment feature and an offset hosel — the biggest differences include a forged 455 stainless face insert versus a titanium insert in the driver, and a Cobra Superlite 60 shaft, which is 10 grams heavier than the driver shaft.

The F-Max fairway woods will be available in 16-, 20- and 23-degree lofts and will sell for $199. Like the drivers, the woods will also come stock with Lamkin Rel 360 midsize grips.

F-Max Hybrids

Cobra’s F-Max hybrids, which also come with its Superlite 60-gram shaft, are designed to blend with the F-Max drivers and fairway woods due to the similarity in construction, according to Cobra. They will be available in 19-, 22-, 25- and 28-degree lofts and will sell for $179 each.

F-Max Irons

Lighter heads, lighter shafts, lighter swing weights. With its F-Max irons — which Cobra calls the lightest irons in company history — Cobra is sticking with the notion that lighter means easier to hit for golfers with slower swing speeds.

In addition to lighter constructions, the F-Max irons also have deeper undercut designs behind the faces for more flex at impact and greater ball speeds across the face, as well as lower-profile heads to help raise launch. The sets also have a progressive design, meaning the long irons (4-7 iron) are made with 17-4 stainless steel for more distance. The shorter irons (8-PW, GW, SW) are made with 431 stainless steel for more feel.

Like the drivers and woods, the irons also have back/heel weighting to encourage a higher launch and more forgiveness, and they’re built with hosel offset to help golfers reduce a slice.

The F-Max irons, which have nickel chrome plating, will be available for $599 (5-PW, GW) with a True Temper Superlite shaft, and $699 (4H, 5H and 6-PW) with a Cobra Superlite 60 graphite shaft.

F-Max One-Length Irons

Cobra first brought one-length irons to retail after signing Bryson DeChambeau, the face of the one-length movement, to its staff. Cobra currently offers one-length irons in a Tour version that DeChambeau uses, a cavity-back version, a junior version, and now, a super game-improvement version with the new F-Max set. Cobra’s argument is that learning just one swing throughout your iron/wedge set can help simplify the game for golfers.

“We are excited to be the first to bring one-length iron technology to the super game-improvement segment of the market,” Olsavsky says. “Allowing senior and women players the simplicity of having one swing and one set-up for their irons helps make golf a little easier and more fun. And for those players who aren’t quite ready to take the one-length iron plunge, we are confident our new F-Max variable length irons will provide an unmatched level of consistency and accuracy.”

Cobra’s F-Max One-Length irons have the same head constructions and pricing as the F-Max variable-length set, which sell for $599 in steel and $699 in graphite.

Related Topics:Cobra drivers hybrids irons

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10 Comments

acemandrake

Aug 2, 2017 at 6:48 pm

This actually makes sense:

“• Most rec golfers should only carry a 15-16º loft “thriver” and then something like a 7-wood, a hybrid and then start their iron single length set at the 6-7 iron into the wedges. For the mass of golfers who cannot break 90 a partial set is adequate to play and manage their inconsistent recreational game.”

Reply Report comment
Rich Douglas

Aug 1, 2017 at 11:38 pm

From the article: “Cobra’s F-Max One-Length irons have the same head constructions and pricing as the F-Max variable-length set….”

How can this be? How could they have the same head constructions in both the VL and SL sets? In order to have a single-length set that works, each head has to weigh the same, have the same lie angle, have the same off-set, have the same MOI, etc. In VL sets, it’s just the opposite, with clubheads changing weight to adjust to each shaft length (in order to maintain swingweight consistency throughout the set).

Either Cobra’s gone back to the Tommy Armour EQL–not likely–or the article is wrong. “Shank” you very much.

Reply Report comment
- Mike
  
  Aug 17, 2017 at 12:25 pm
  
  No, I think you just misinterpreted what they meany by “same head constructions”. It just means the same material composition and weight distribution. They can have different total weights and lofts/lies.
  
  Reply Report comment
Doh doh doh

Aug 1, 2017 at 8:31 pm

I’ve been waiting for these! Mega off-set drivers and irons to really gouge it from the back foot! yeah!

Reply Report comment
Anthony

Aug 1, 2017 at 5:10 pm

Must not have noticed the “One Length” part? Shank???

Reply Report comment
BusterG

Aug 1, 2017 at 2:25 pm

Those pretty looking Cobra F-Max irons and driver will find their way into my bag. they are outright wicked and will scare the bejesus outta my playing buddies — lololol

Reply Report comment
SilkyMitts

Aug 1, 2017 at 12:37 pm

Those irons with chrome plating and metalwoods with black PVD are straight fire.

Reply Report comment
acemandrake

Aug 1, 2017 at 8:01 am

Could be possible that single length clubs are ideal for casual/recreational golfers?

Cobra should offer a higher lofted driver than their 11.5.

Reply Report comment
- Rich Douglas
  
  Aug 1, 2017 at 11:54 pm
  
  “Could be possible that single length clubs are ideal for casual/recreational golfers?”
  
  No, not really. Swingspeed–which correlates strongly to performance–is the key here.
  
  In variable length sets, slower swingers have trouble maintaining distances in the long irons. This is a key reason we saw a transition from 1-3 irons towards hybrids. Hybrids are easier for slower swingers to get aloft and see decent distances. They have longer shafts, are lighter, and have bigger sweet spots. But….
  
  This problem oozes over to the single-length arena, only more so. Because each iron is built around a 7- or 8-iron length, the player cannot rely on a longer shaft to produce sufficient swing speed. These irons do account for this by (a) having a higher COR than traditional irons and (b) counting on the player hitting closer to the sweet spot more often (because of the shorter shaft and developed consistency because of the single-length approach).
  
  So here’s the dilemma: slower swingers can’t (much) benefit from SL irons. And better (faster) players tend not to want to switch from what works for them. I happen to be someone who falls between these concepts.
  
  I’m a fast swinger (driver at approximately 110mph), but I needed more consistency from my irons. Once I became a better sand player and putter, it remained the thing blocking my improvement. SL irons have done that for me. I’ve been playing them for 7 months (Wishon Sterling) and will never go back. I have a nice set of barely use 2016 Pings in the garage that I haven’t touched since I got the Sterlings back in January.
  
  I hope OEMs can find a good niche; I’d like to think SL irons have a future. But at age 58, I’m willing to ride these Sterlings out–possibly re-shafting them with graphite when it becomes time. Instead, I hope manufacturers find a way to make this work and continue to improve on the designs (likely in SL clubs with varying shafts). Until then, I’ll enjoy the sheer consistency the Sterlings have brought to my iron game. Awesome.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Steve S
  
  Aug 2, 2017 at 8:52 am
  
  As one of the “older” golfers I have seen the same thing from my friends. I play an adj. Rocketbalz set at 8.5 and hit the ball higher then all of them. I made the adjustment of teeing the ball VERY high(4 inch tees) and playing it off my front toe. This allows me to hit with an “upward” impact with launches the ball high with just enough spin to maximize carry. I’m slowly convincing my friends to do the same. They all tend to hit down or level and it kills their distance with a driver. In some ways my set up looks “goofy” (according to one friend) but I hit my drives 20-40 yards long than any of my buddies….and I’m older than most of them.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory

Published

1 hour ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.

McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.

So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?

Driver

2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)

McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.

What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)

The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.

Fairway woods

2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.

The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.

Irons

2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0

The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.

With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.

Wedges

2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.

Putter

2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.

Ball

2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)

As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

Grips

2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC

Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.

Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: Titleist Vokey Proto Wedges 54M, 60T

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Will Schube

At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @Putt4Dough is selling some prototype wedges from Vokey Wedgeworks. These include a 54 degree wedge with the M grind and a 60 degree wedge with a T grind.

From the listing:

(1) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 54M with a Tour Issue DGS400 shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet (logo down). Standard length, lie, and loft. BB&F ferrule. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.

(2) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 60T with a KBS Tour 130X shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet. Standard length, lie, and loft. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.